US20130197304A1 - Device and method for reducing effects of video artifacts - Google Patents
Device and method for reducing effects of video artifacts Download PDFInfo
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- US20130197304A1 US20130197304A1 US13/606,465 US201213606465A US2013197304A1 US 20130197304 A1 US20130197304 A1 US 20130197304A1 US 201213606465 A US201213606465 A US 201213606465A US 2013197304 A1 US2013197304 A1 US 2013197304A1
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/06—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
- A61B1/0625—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements for multiple fixed illumination angles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
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- A61B1/00—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor
- A61B1/00002—Operational features of endoscopes
- A61B1/00004—Operational features of endoscopes characterised by electronic signal processing
- A61B1/00009—Operational features of endoscopes characterised by electronic signal processing of image signals during a use of endoscope
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- A61B1/00002—Operational features of endoscopes
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- A61B1/00002—Operational features of endoscopes
- A61B1/00043—Operational features of endoscopes provided with output arrangements
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- A61B1/012—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor characterised by internal passages or accessories therefor
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- A61B1/05—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor combined with photographic or television appliances characterised by the image sensor, e.g. camera, being in the distal end portion
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- A61B1/06—Instruments for performing medical examinations of the interior of cavities or tubes of the body by visual or photographical inspection, e.g. endoscopes; Illuminating arrangements therefor with illuminating arrangements
- A61B1/0661—Endoscope light sources
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- A61B1/005—Flexible endoscopes
- A61B1/0051—Flexible endoscopes with controlled bending of insertion part
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a device and method for reducing effects of video artifacts.
- an endoscopic device may be a medical endoscope comprising a flexible tube, and a camera and a light source mounted on the distal end of the flexible tube.
- the endoscope is insertable into an internal body cavity through a body orifice to examine the body cavity and tissues for diagnosis.
- the tube of the endoscope has one or more longitudinal channels, through which an instrument can reach the body cavity to take samples of suspicious tissues or to perform other surgical procedures such as polypectomy.
- endoscopes There are many types of endoscopes, and they are named in relation to the organs or areas with which they are used. For example, gastroscopes are used for examination and treatment of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum; colonoscopes for the colon; bronchoscopes for the bronchi; laparoscopes for the peritoneal cavity; sigmoidoscopes for the rectum and the sigmoid colon; arthroscopes for joints; cystoscopes for the urinary bladder; and angioscopes for the examination of blood vessels.
- gastroscopes are used for examination and treatment of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum
- colonoscopes for the colon
- bronchoscopes for the bronchi
- laparoscopes for the peritoneal cavity
- sigmoidoscopes for the rectum and the sigmoid colon
- arthroscopes for joints
- cystoscopes for the urinary bladder
- angioscopes for the examination of blood vessels
- Each endoscope has a single forward viewing camera mounted at the distal end of the flexible tube to transmit an image to an eyepiece or video camera at the proximal end.
- the camera is used to assist a medical professional in advancing the endoscope into a body cavity and looking for abnormalities.
- the camera provides the medical professional with a two-dimensional view from the distal end of the endoscope.
- the endoscope To capture an image from a different angle or in a different portion, the endoscope must be repositioned or moved back and forth. Repositioning and movement of the endoscope prolongs the procedure and causes added discomfort, complications, and risks to the patient.
- flexures, tissue folds and unusual geometries of the organ may prevent the endoscope's camera from viewing all areas of the organ.
- the unseen area may cause a potentially malignant (cancerous) polyp to be missed.
- auxiliary camera and an auxiliary light source can be provided.
- the auxiliary camera and light source can be oriented to face the main camera and light source, thus providing an image of areas not viewable by the endoscope's main camera.
- This arrangement of cameras and light sources can provide both front and rear views of an area or an abnormality.
- the camera arrangement allows better placement of the wire loop to minimize damage to the adjacent healthy tissue.
- the two cameras may be based on different technologies and may have different characteristics.
- the main camera is a charge coupled device (CCD) camera that requires a very intense light source for illumination.
- a light source may be a fiber optic bundle.
- the auxiliary camera may be a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera with a light emitting diode (LED) to provide illumination.
- CMOS complementary metal oxide semiconductor
- LED light emitting diode
- artifacts may appear on the video images produced by the imaging devices.
- One example of the observed artifacts is a “thin line” near the top edge of a video image generated by a main endoscope's CCD imaging device, when the CCD imaging device is used in pair with retrograde imaging and light emitting devices.
- this “thin line” artifact is caused by how images are captured and/or processed by the CCD imaging device.
- the artifact may be related the video processing circuitry.
- image data are captured and/or processed a single row of the image at a time.
- individual pixels of the image can succumb to charge “leaks” which can spill over into the other light receptors in the same row. This may cause loss of portions of the video image and appearance of a “thin line” in the video image.
- an endoscopic system includes a first imaging device, a second imaging device, a light source, and a controller that reduces an artifact in an image produced by the first imaging device.
- the first imaging device faces the light source.
- the controller adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device's video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- the controller adjusts a phase of the second imaging device's video clock signal to vary the phase between the second imaging device's video synchronization signal and the first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- the phase between the two video synchronization signals may be zero or nonzero.
- the controller synchronizes a duty cycle of the light source to turn on the light source only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval to reduce the size of the artifact.
- the controller moves the artifact by adjusting a pulse width and/or delay timing of the light source.
- the controller moves the artifact vertically.
- the controller includes a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device's video clock signal so that a phase of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a phase of the first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device's video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- the controller includes a light source driver, and the light source driver is connected to the phase lock loop circuit to receive the video clock signal.
- the light source driver synchronizes a duty cycle of the light source to turn on the light source only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval to reduce the size of the artifact.
- the light source driver moves the artifact by adjusting a pulse width and/or delay timing of the light source.
- the controller moves the artifact vertically.
- the phase lock loop circuit includes a sync separator that is connected to the first imaging device to receive the video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive the video synchronization signal of the second imaging device.
- the sync separator extracts a vertical synchronization signal from the video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and another vertical synchronization signal from the video synchronization signal of the second imaging device.
- the phase lock loop circuit includes a phase detector that is connected to the sync separator to receive the vertical synchronization signals.
- the phase detector computes the phase difference between the vertical synchronization signals using the vertical synchronization signal of the first imaging device as a reference signal.
- the phase lock loop circuit includes a low pass filter that is connected to the phase detector to receive the phase difference and that averages the phase difference to reduce the noise content of the phase difference.
- the phase lock loop circuit includes an oscillator that is connected to the low pass filter to receive the averaged phase difference and that creates the video clock signal.
- an endoscopic system includes a first imaging device, a second imaging device, a light source, and a controller that varies a phase difference between video synchronization signals of the first and second imaging devices to reduce an artifact in an image produced by the first imaging device.
- an endoscopic system includes a first imaging device, a first light source, a second imaging device, a second light source, and a controller.
- the first imaging device and light source may face the second imaging device and light source.
- the controller includes a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device so that image frames of the imaging devices have the same frequency and are in phase.
- the first imaging device and light source may be powered on during one half of the frame period, and the second imaging device and light source are powered on during the other half of the frame period.
- the frame frequency is sufficiently high such that eyes cannot sense that the first and second imaging devices and their light sources are intermittently powered on and off.
- a method for reducing an effect of a video artifact includes adjusting a phase of a second imaging device's video clock signal so that a phase of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a phase of a first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- the method further includes adjusting a frequency of the second imaging device's video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- the method further includes synchronizing a duty cycle of a light source to turn on the light source only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval to reduce the size of the artifact, wherein the light source faces the first imaging device.
- the method further includes moving the artifact by adjusting a pulse width and/or delay timing of the light source.
- the moving step includes moving the artifact vertically.
- the adjusting step includes extracting a vertical synchronization signal from the video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and another vertical synchronization signal from the video synchronization signal of the second imaging device.
- the adjusting step includes computing the phase difference between the vertical synchronization signals using the vertical synchronization signal of the first imaging device as a reference signal.
- the adjusting step includes averaging the phase difference to reduce the noise content of the phase difference.
- the adjusting step includes creating the video clock signal.
- FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an endoscope with an imaging assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the distal end of an insertion tube of the endoscope of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the imaging assembly shown in FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the distal ends of the endoscope and imaging assembly of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a controller that, together with the endoscope of FIG. 1 , forms an endoscope system.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary endoscope 10 of the present invention.
- This endoscope 10 can be used in a variety of medical procedures in which imaging of a body tissue, organ, cavity or lumen is required.
- the types of procedures include, for example, anoscopy, arthroscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, EGD, laparoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy.
- the endoscope 10 of FIG. 1 includes an insertion tube 12 and an imaging assembly 14 , a section of which is housed inside the insertion tube 12 .
- the insertion tube 12 has two longitudinal channels 16 .
- the insertion tube 12 may have any number of longitudinal channels.
- An instrument can reach the body cavity through one of the channels 16 to perform any desired procedures, such as to take samples of suspicious tissues or to perform other surgical procedures such as polypectomy.
- the instruments may be, for example, a retractable needle for drug injection, hydraulically actuated scissors, clamps, grasping tools, electrocoagulation systems, ultrasound transducers, electrical sensors, heating elements, laser mechanisms and other ablation means.
- one of the channels can be used to supply a washing liquid such as water for washing.
- a washing liquid such as water for washing.
- Another or the same channel may be used to supply a gas, such as CO.sub.2 or air into the organ.
- the channels 16 may also be used to extract fluids or inject fluids, such as a drug in a liquid carrier, into the body.
- Various biopsy, drug delivery, and other diagnostic and therapeutic devices may also be inserted via the channels 16 to perform specific functions.
- the insertion tube 12 preferably is steerable or has a steerable distal end region 18 as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the length of the distal end region 18 may be any suitable fraction of the length of the insertion tube 12 , such as one half, one third, one fourth, one sixth, one tenth, or one twentieth.
- the insertion tube 12 may have control cables (not shown) for the manipulation of the insertion tube 12 .
- the control cables are symmetrically positioned within the insertion tube 12 and extend along the length of the insertion tube 12 .
- the control cables may be anchored at or near the distal end 36 of the insertion tube 12 .
- Each of the control cables may be a Bowden cable, which includes a wire contained in a flexible overlying hollow tube.
- the wires of the Bowden cables are attached to controls 20 in the handle 22 . Using the controls 20 , the wires can be pulled to bend the distal end region 18 of the insertion tube 12 in a given direction.
- the Bowden cables can be used to articulate the distal end region 18 of the insertion tube 12 in different directions.
- the endoscope 10 may also include a control handle 22 connected to the proximal end 24 of the insertion tube 12 .
- the control handle 22 has one or more ports and/or valves (not shown) for controlling access to the channels 16 of the insertion tube 12 .
- the ports and/or valves can be air or water valves, suction valves, instrumentation ports, and suction/instrumentation ports.
- the control handle 22 may additionally include buttons 26 for taking pictures with an imaging device on the insertion tube 12 , the imaging assembly 14 , or both.
- the proximal end 28 of the control handle 22 may include an accessory outlet 30 ( FIG. 1 ) that provides fluid communication between the air, water and suction channels and the pumps and related accessories. The same outlet 30 or a different outlet can be used for electrical lines to light and imaging components at the distal end of the endoscope 10 .
- the endoscope 10 may further include an imaging device 32 and light sources 34 , both of which are disposed at the distal end 36 of the insertion tube 12 .
- the imaging device 32 may include, for example, a lens, single chip sensor, multiple chip sensor or fiber optic implemented devices.
- the imaging device 32 in electrical communication with a processor and/or monitor, may provide still images or recorded or live video images.
- the light sources 34 preferably are equidistant from the imaging device 32 to provide even illumination. The intensity of each light source 34 can be adjusted to achieve optimum imaging.
- the circuits for the imaging device 32 and light sources 34 may be incorporated into a printed circuit board (PCB).
- PCB printed circuit board
- the imaging assembly 14 may include a tubular body 38 , a handle 42 connected to the proximal end 40 of the tubular body 38 , an auxiliary imaging device 44 , a link 46 that provides physical and/or electrical connection between the auxiliary imaging device 44 to the distal end 48 of the tubular body 38 , and an auxiliary light source 50 ( FIG. 4 ).
- the auxiliary light source 50 may be an LED device.
- the imaging assembly 14 of the endoscope 10 is used to provide an auxiliary imaging device at the distal end of the insertion tube 12 .
- the imaging assembly 14 is placed inside one of the channels 16 of the endoscope's insertion tube 12 with its auxiliary imaging device 44 disposed beyond the distal end 36 of the insertion tube 12 . This can be accomplished by first inserting the distal end of the imaging assembly 14 into the insertion tube's channel 16 from the endoscope's handle 18 and then pushing the imaging assembly 14 further into the assembly 14 until the auxiliary imaging device 44 and link 46 of the imaging assembly 14 are positioned outside the distal end 36 of the insertion tube 12 as shown in FIG. 4 .
- Each of the main and auxiliary imaging devices 32 , 44 may be an electronic device which converts light incident on photosensitive semiconductor elements into electrical signals.
- the imaging sensor may detect either color or black-and-white images.
- the signals from the imaging sensor can be digitized and used to reproduce an image that is incident on the imaging sensor.
- Two commonly used types of image sensors are Charge Coupled Devices (CCD) such as a VCC-5774 produced by Sanyo of Osaka, Japan and Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) camera chips such as an OVT 6910 produced by OnmiVision of Sunnyvale, Calif.
- CCD Charge Coupled Devices
- CMOS Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor
- OVT 6910 produced by OnmiVision of Sunnyvale, Calif.
- the main imaging device 32 is a CCD imaging device
- the auxiliary imaging device 44 is a CMOS imaging device.
- the auxiliary imaging device 44 of the imaging assembly 14 preferably faces backwards towards the main imaging device 32 as illustrated in FIG. 4 .
- the auxiliary imaging device 44 may be oriented so that the auxiliary imaging device 44 and the main imaging device 32 have adjacent or overlapping viewing areas.
- the auxiliary imaging device 44 may be oriented so that the auxiliary imaging device 44 and the main imaging device 32 simultaneously provide different views of the same area.
- the auxiliary imaging device 44 provides a retrograde view of the area, while the main imaging device 32 provides a front view of the area.
- the auxiliary imaging device 44 could be oriented in other directions to provide other views, including views that are substantially parallel to the axis of the main imaging device 32 .
- the link 46 connects the auxiliary imaging device 44 to the distal end 48 of the tubular body 38 .
- the link 46 is a flexible link that is at least partially made from a flexible shape memory material that substantially tends to return to its original shape after deformation.
- Shape memory materials are well known and include shape memory alloys and shape memory polymers.
- a suitable flexible shape memory material is a shape memory alloy such as nitinol.
- the natural configuration of the flexible link 46 is the configuration of the flexible link 46 when the flexible link 46 is not subject to any force or stress.
- the auxiliary imaging device 44 faces substantially back towards the distal end 36 of the insertion tube 12 as shown in FIG. 5 .
- the auxiliary light source 50 of the imaging assembly 14 is placed on the flexible link 46 , in particular on the curved concave portion of the flexible link 46 .
- the auxiliary light source 50 provides illumination for the auxiliary imaging device 44 and may face substantially the same direction as the auxiliary imaging device 44 as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the endoscope of the present invention may be part of an endoscope system that also includes a controller.
- controller as used in this specification is broadly defined. In some embodiments, for example, the term “controller” may simply be a signal processing unit.
- FIG. 5 illustrates a preferred embodiment 52 of the controller.
- the preferred controller 52 includes a phase lock loop (PLL) circuit 54 .
- the PLL circuit 54 includes a sync separator 56 , a phase detector 58 , a low pass filter 60 , and an oscillator 62 .
- the sync separator 56 is connected to each of the main and auxiliary imaging devices 32 , 44 to receive a video synchronization signal 64 from each imaging device 32 , 44 .
- the sync separator 56 extracts a vertical synchronization signal from each video synchronization signal 64 .
- the phase detector 58 is connected to the sync separator 56 and receives the vertical synchronization signals from the sync separator 56 .
- the phase detector 56 then computes the phase difference between the vertical synchronization signals using the vertical synchronization signal of the main imaging device 32 as the reference signal.
- the low pass filter 60 is connected to the phase detector 58 and receives the phase difference from the phase detector 58 .
- the low pass filter 60 averages the phase difference to reduce the noise content of the phase difference.
- the oscillator 62 is connected to the low pass filter 60 and receives the averaged phase difference. Based on the averaged phase difference, the oscillator 62 creates an output signal that matches the frequency and phase of the vertical synchronization signal of the main imaging device 32 .
- This output signal of the PLL circuit 54 may be then amplified and sent to the auxiliary imaging device 44 as a video clock signal 66 .
- This feedback control loop adjusts the phase and/or frequency of the auxiliary imaging device's video clock so that the phase and frequency of the auxiliary imaging device's video synchronization signal 64 match those of the main imaging device 32 ′s video synchronization signal 64 .
- the two imaging devices 32 , 44 have the same frame frequency and frame phase.
- the preferred controller 52 shown in FIG. 5 may also include an auxiliary light source driver 68 that is used to “pulse” the auxiliary light source 50 .
- a “pulsed” light source is not constantly powered on. Instead, it is turned on and off intermittently at a certain frequency.
- the frequency, phase and duty cycle (pulse width) of the auxiliary light source 50 can be adjusted by the auxiliary light source driver 68 .
- the output signal of the PLL circuit 54 may also be sent to the auxiliary light source driver 68 to match the frequency of the auxiliary light source 50 with that of the imaging devices 32 , 44 .
- the size and position of the artifact on an image produced by the main imaging device 32 may be adjusted by varying at least the duty cycle of the auxiliary light source 50 and by varying at least the phase of the auxiliary light source 50 relative to the imaging devices 32 , 44 .
- the duty cycle of the auxiliary light source 50 may be adjusted to vary at least the size of the artifact.
- the size of the artifact may be reduced by decreasing the duty cycle of the auxiliary light source 50 .
- the length of the artifact may be reduced by decreasing the duty cycle of the auxiliary light source 50 .
- the artifact on an image produced by the main imaging device 32 may be moved, such as vertically, by varying at least the phase of the auxiliary light source 50 relative to the imaging devices 32 , 44 .
- the controller 52 may allow a user to adjust the phase of the auxiliary light source 50 to move the artifact to a region of non-interest in the image such as the location of the auxiliary light source 50 .
- the duty cycle and/or phase of the auxiliary light source 50 may be adjusted so that the auxiliary light source 50 is powered on only when the main imaging device 32 is in a vertical blanking interval, resulting in a reduction in the size of the artifact.
- the size and/or position of an artifact on an image produced by the auxiliary imaging device 44 may be adjusted by varying at least the duty cycle of the main light source 34 and by varying at least the phase of the main light source 34 relative to the imaging devices 32 , 44 .
- an artifact on an image produced by one of the image devices 32 , 44 may also be minimized by introducing a phase difference between the video synchronization signals of the main and auxiliary imaging devices 32 , 44 (i.e., introducing a phase delay between the frame rates of the two video signals).
- the PLL circuit 54 may be used to maintain the desired phase difference between the video synchronization signals.
- the controller 52 may be used to adjust the phase difference between the video synchronization signals to minimize the artifact.
- the auxiliary imaging device 44 and its light source 50 may be connected to the controller 52 (not shown) via electrical conductors that extend from the imaging device 44 and light source 50 ; through the link 46 , tubular body 38 , and handle 42 ; to the controller 52 .
- the electrical conductors may carry power and control commands to the auxiliary imaging device 44 and its light source 50 and image signals from the auxiliary imaging device 44 to the controller 52 .
- the controller 52 may be used to adjust the parameters of the imaging devices 32 , 44 and their light sources 34 , 50 , such as brightness, exposure time and mode settings.
- the adjustment can be done by writing digital commands to specific registers controlling the parameters.
- the registers can be addressed by their unique addresses, and digital commands can be read from and written to the registers to change the various parameters.
- the controller 52 can change the register values by transmitting data commands to the registers.
- the controller 52 may be used to reduce light interference between the main imaging device 32 and light source 34 and the auxiliary imaging device 44 and light source 50 . Since the main imaging device 32 and light source 34 face the auxiliary imaging device 44 and light source 50 , the main light source 34 interferes with the auxiliary imaging device 44 , and the auxiliary light source 50 interferes with the main imaging device 32 . Light interference is the result of the light from a light source being projected directly onto an imaging device. This may cause light glare, camera blooming, or over saturation of light, resulting in inferior image quality.
- the imaging devices 32 , 44 and their light sources 34 , 50 may be turned on and off alternately. In other words, when the main imaging device 32 and light source 34 are turned on, the auxiliary imaging device 44 and light source 50 are turned off. And when the main imaging device 32 and light sources 34 are turned off, the auxiliary imaging device 44 and light source 50 are turned on.
- the imaging devices 32 , 44 and their light sources 34 , 50 are turned on and off at a sufficiently high frequency that eyes do not sense that the light sources 34 , 50 are being turned on and off.
- the timing of powering on and off the imaging devices 32 , 44 and their light sources 34 , 50 can be accomplished using the PLL circuit 54 shown in FIG. 5 .
- the PLL circuit 54 may be employed to match the frame frequencies and phases of the imaging devices 32 , 44 as discussed above. Then, the main imaging device 32 and light source 34 are powered on during one half of the frame period, and the auxiliary imaging device 44 and light source 50 are powered on during the other half of the frame period.
- the above-described processes and devices may also be used when there are more than two imaging devices and two light sources and when the imaging devices and light sources are on two or more endoscopes.
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Abstract
Description
- This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/751,597, filed May 21, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/801/748, filed May 19, 2006, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
- The present invention relates to a device and method for reducing effects of video artifacts.
- Multiple endoscopic devices with multiple cameras and light sources may be used for medical procedures, inspection of small pipes, or remote monitoring. For example, such an endoscopic device may be a medical endoscope comprising a flexible tube, and a camera and a light source mounted on the distal end of the flexible tube. The endoscope is insertable into an internal body cavity through a body orifice to examine the body cavity and tissues for diagnosis. The tube of the endoscope has one or more longitudinal channels, through which an instrument can reach the body cavity to take samples of suspicious tissues or to perform other surgical procedures such as polypectomy.
- There are many types of endoscopes, and they are named in relation to the organs or areas with which they are used. For example, gastroscopes are used for examination and treatment of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum; colonoscopes for the colon; bronchoscopes for the bronchi; laparoscopes for the peritoneal cavity; sigmoidoscopes for the rectum and the sigmoid colon; arthroscopes for joints; cystoscopes for the urinary bladder; and angioscopes for the examination of blood vessels.
- Each endoscope has a single forward viewing camera mounted at the distal end of the flexible tube to transmit an image to an eyepiece or video camera at the proximal end. The camera is used to assist a medical professional in advancing the endoscope into a body cavity and looking for abnormalities. The camera provides the medical professional with a two-dimensional view from the distal end of the endoscope. To capture an image from a different angle or in a different portion, the endoscope must be repositioned or moved back and forth. Repositioning and movement of the endoscope prolongs the procedure and causes added discomfort, complications, and risks to the patient. Additionally, in an environment similar to the lower gastro-intestinal tract, flexures, tissue folds and unusual geometries of the organ may prevent the endoscope's camera from viewing all areas of the organ. The unseen area may cause a potentially malignant (cancerous) polyp to be missed.
- This problem can be overcome by providing an auxiliary camera and an auxiliary light source. The auxiliary camera and light source can be oriented to face the main camera and light source, thus providing an image of areas not viewable by the endoscope's main camera. This arrangement of cameras and light sources can provide both front and rear views of an area or an abnormality. In the case of polypectomy where a polyp is excised by placing a wire loop around the base of the polyp, the camera arrangement allows better placement of the wire loop to minimize damage to the adjacent healthy tissue.
- The two cameras may be based on different technologies and may have different characteristics. In many cases, the main camera is a charge coupled device (CCD) camera that requires a very intense light source for illumination. Such as a light source may be a fiber optic bundle. The auxiliary camera may be a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera with a light emitting diode (LED) to provide illumination.
- The inventors of the present application have observed that, when multiple imaging and light emitting devices are used as described in the background section of the present specification, artifacts may appear on the video images produced by the imaging devices. One example of the observed artifacts is a “thin line” near the top edge of a video image generated by a main endoscope's CCD imaging device, when the CCD imaging device is used in pair with retrograde imaging and light emitting devices.
- The inventors believe that this “thin line” artifact is caused by how images are captured and/or processed by the CCD imaging device. Alternatively or additionally, the artifact may be related the video processing circuitry. In a CCD camera system, image data are captured and/or processed a single row of the image at a time. As a result, if there is a bright light source such as the retrograde light emitting device, individual pixels of the image can succumb to charge “leaks” which can spill over into the other light receptors in the same row. This may cause loss of portions of the video image and appearance of a “thin line” in the video image.
- The present invention can be used to reduce the effects of the “thin line” artifact. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, an endoscopic system includes a first imaging device, a second imaging device, a light source, and a controller that reduces an artifact in an image produced by the first imaging device. In some embodiments, the first imaging device faces the light source.
- In one preferred embodiment, the controller adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device's video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- In another preferred embodiment, the controller adjusts a phase of the second imaging device's video clock signal to vary the phase between the second imaging device's video synchronization signal and the first imaging device's video synchronization signal. The phase between the two video synchronization signals may be zero or nonzero.
- In still another preferred embodiment, the controller synchronizes a duty cycle of the light source to turn on the light source only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval to reduce the size of the artifact.
- In yet another preferred embodiment, the controller moves the artifact by adjusting a pulse width and/or delay timing of the light source. Preferably, the controller moves the artifact vertically.
- In still yet another preferred embodiment, wherein the controller includes a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device, wherein the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a phase of the second imaging device's video clock signal so that a phase of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a phase of the first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- In a further preferred embodiment, the phase lock loop circuit adjusts a frequency of the second imaging device's video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- In a still further preferred embodiment, the controller includes a light source driver, and the light source driver is connected to the phase lock loop circuit to receive the video clock signal. Preferably, the light source driver synchronizes a duty cycle of the light source to turn on the light source only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval to reduce the size of the artifact.
- In a yet further preferred embodiment, the light source driver moves the artifact by adjusting a pulse width and/or delay timing of the light source. Preferably, the controller moves the artifact vertically.
- In a still yet further preferred embodiment, the phase lock loop circuit includes a sync separator that is connected to the first imaging device to receive the video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive the video synchronization signal of the second imaging device. Preferably, the sync separator extracts a vertical synchronization signal from the video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and another vertical synchronization signal from the video synchronization signal of the second imaging device.
- In another preferred embodiment, the phase lock loop circuit includes a phase detector that is connected to the sync separator to receive the vertical synchronization signals. Preferably, the phase detector computes the phase difference between the vertical synchronization signals using the vertical synchronization signal of the first imaging device as a reference signal.
- In still another preferred embodiment, the phase lock loop circuit includes a low pass filter that is connected to the phase detector to receive the phase difference and that averages the phase difference to reduce the noise content of the phase difference.
- In yet another preferred embodiment, the phase lock loop circuit includes an oscillator that is connected to the low pass filter to receive the averaged phase difference and that creates the video clock signal.
- In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an endoscopic system includes a first imaging device, a second imaging device, a light source, and a controller that varies a phase difference between video synchronization signals of the first and second imaging devices to reduce an artifact in an image produced by the first imaging device.
- In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, an endoscopic system includes a first imaging device, a first light source, a second imaging device, a second light source, and a controller. The first imaging device and light source may face the second imaging device and light source. Preferably, the controller includes a phase lock loop circuit that is connected to the first imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and connected to the second imaging device to receive a video synchronization signal of the second imaging device and to send a video clock signal for the second imaging device so that image frames of the imaging devices have the same frequency and are in phase. The first imaging device and light source may be powered on during one half of the frame period, and the second imaging device and light source are powered on during the other half of the frame period.
- In a preferred embodiment, the frame frequency is sufficiently high such that eyes cannot sense that the first and second imaging devices and their light sources are intermittently powered on and off.
- In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a method for reducing an effect of a video artifact includes adjusting a phase of a second imaging device's video clock signal so that a phase of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a phase of a first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- In a preferred embodiment, the method further includes adjusting a frequency of the second imaging device's video clock signal so that a frequency of the second imaging device's video synchronization signal matches a frequency of the first imaging device's video synchronization signal.
- In another preferred embodiment, the method further includes synchronizing a duty cycle of a light source to turn on the light source only when the first imaging device is in a vertical blanking interval to reduce the size of the artifact, wherein the light source faces the first imaging device.
- In yet another preferred embodiment, the method further includes moving the artifact by adjusting a pulse width and/or delay timing of the light source. Preferably, the moving step includes moving the artifact vertically.
- In still yet another preferred embodiment, the adjusting step includes extracting a vertical synchronization signal from the video synchronization signal of the first imaging device and another vertical synchronization signal from the video synchronization signal of the second imaging device.
- In a further preferred embodiment, the adjusting step includes computing the phase difference between the vertical synchronization signals using the vertical synchronization signal of the first imaging device as a reference signal.
- In a still further preferred embodiment, the adjusting step includes averaging the phase difference to reduce the noise content of the phase difference.
- In a yet further preferred embodiment, the adjusting step includes creating the video clock signal.
-
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an endoscope with an imaging assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the distal end of an insertion tube of the endoscope ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the imaging assembly shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the distal ends of the endoscope and imaging assembly ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram of a controller that, together with the endoscope ofFIG. 1 , forms an endoscope system. -
FIG. 1 illustrates anexemplary endoscope 10 of the present invention. Thisendoscope 10 can be used in a variety of medical procedures in which imaging of a body tissue, organ, cavity or lumen is required. The types of procedures include, for example, anoscopy, arthroscopy, bronchoscopy, colonoscopy, cystoscopy, EGD, laparoscopy, and sigmoidoscopy. - The
endoscope 10 ofFIG. 1 includes aninsertion tube 12 and animaging assembly 14, a section of which is housed inside theinsertion tube 12. As shown inFIG. 2 , theinsertion tube 12 has twolongitudinal channels 16. In general, however, theinsertion tube 12 may have any number of longitudinal channels. An instrument can reach the body cavity through one of thechannels 16 to perform any desired procedures, such as to take samples of suspicious tissues or to perform other surgical procedures such as polypectomy. The instruments may be, for example, a retractable needle for drug injection, hydraulically actuated scissors, clamps, grasping tools, electrocoagulation systems, ultrasound transducers, electrical sensors, heating elements, laser mechanisms and other ablation means. In some embodiments, one of the channels can be used to supply a washing liquid such as water for washing. Another or the same channel may be used to supply a gas, such as CO.sub.2 or air into the organ. Thechannels 16 may also be used to extract fluids or inject fluids, such as a drug in a liquid carrier, into the body. Various biopsy, drug delivery, and other diagnostic and therapeutic devices may also be inserted via thechannels 16 to perform specific functions. - The
insertion tube 12 preferably is steerable or has a steerabledistal end region 18 as shown inFIG. 1 . The length of thedistal end region 18 may be any suitable fraction of the length of theinsertion tube 12, such as one half, one third, one fourth, one sixth, one tenth, or one twentieth. Theinsertion tube 12 may have control cables (not shown) for the manipulation of theinsertion tube 12. Preferably, the control cables are symmetrically positioned within theinsertion tube 12 and extend along the length of theinsertion tube 12. The control cables may be anchored at or near thedistal end 36 of theinsertion tube 12. Each of the control cables may be a Bowden cable, which includes a wire contained in a flexible overlying hollow tube. The wires of the Bowden cables are attached tocontrols 20 in thehandle 22. Using thecontrols 20, the wires can be pulled to bend thedistal end region 18 of theinsertion tube 12 in a given direction. The Bowden cables can be used to articulate thedistal end region 18 of theinsertion tube 12 in different directions. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , theendoscope 10 may also include acontrol handle 22 connected to theproximal end 24 of theinsertion tube 12. Preferably, the control handle 22 has one or more ports and/or valves (not shown) for controlling access to thechannels 16 of theinsertion tube 12. The ports and/or valves can be air or water valves, suction valves, instrumentation ports, and suction/instrumentation ports. As shown inFIG. 1 , the control handle 22 may additionally includebuttons 26 for taking pictures with an imaging device on theinsertion tube 12, theimaging assembly 14, or both. Theproximal end 28 of the control handle 22 may include an accessory outlet 30 (FIG. 1 ) that provides fluid communication between the air, water and suction channels and the pumps and related accessories. Thesame outlet 30 or a different outlet can be used for electrical lines to light and imaging components at the distal end of theendoscope 10. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , theendoscope 10 may further include animaging device 32 andlight sources 34, both of which are disposed at thedistal end 36 of theinsertion tube 12. Theimaging device 32 may include, for example, a lens, single chip sensor, multiple chip sensor or fiber optic implemented devices. Theimaging device 32, in electrical communication with a processor and/or monitor, may provide still images or recorded or live video images. Thelight sources 34 preferably are equidistant from theimaging device 32 to provide even illumination. The intensity of eachlight source 34 can be adjusted to achieve optimum imaging. The circuits for theimaging device 32 andlight sources 34 may be incorporated into a printed circuit board (PCB). - As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4 , theimaging assembly 14 may include atubular body 38, ahandle 42 connected to theproximal end 40 of thetubular body 38, anauxiliary imaging device 44, alink 46 that provides physical and/or electrical connection between theauxiliary imaging device 44 to thedistal end 48 of thetubular body 38, and an auxiliary light source 50 (FIG. 4 ). The auxiliarylight source 50 may be an LED device. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , theimaging assembly 14 of theendoscope 10 is used to provide an auxiliary imaging device at the distal end of theinsertion tube 12. To this end, theimaging assembly 14 is placed inside one of thechannels 16 of the endoscope'sinsertion tube 12 with itsauxiliary imaging device 44 disposed beyond thedistal end 36 of theinsertion tube 12. This can be accomplished by first inserting the distal end of theimaging assembly 14 into the insertion tube'schannel 16 from the endoscope'shandle 18 and then pushing theimaging assembly 14 further into theassembly 14 until theauxiliary imaging device 44 and link 46 of theimaging assembly 14 are positioned outside thedistal end 36 of theinsertion tube 12 as shown inFIG. 4 . - Each of the main and
auxiliary imaging devices main imaging device 32 is a CCD imaging device, and theauxiliary imaging device 44 is a CMOS imaging device. - When the
imaging assembly 14 is properly installed in theinsertion tube 12, theauxiliary imaging device 44 of theimaging assembly 14 preferably faces backwards towards themain imaging device 32 as illustrated inFIG. 4 . Theauxiliary imaging device 44 may be oriented so that theauxiliary imaging device 44 and themain imaging device 32 have adjacent or overlapping viewing areas. Alternatively, theauxiliary imaging device 44 may be oriented so that theauxiliary imaging device 44 and themain imaging device 32 simultaneously provide different views of the same area. Preferably, theauxiliary imaging device 44 provides a retrograde view of the area, while themain imaging device 32 provides a front view of the area. However, theauxiliary imaging device 44 could be oriented in other directions to provide other views, including views that are substantially parallel to the axis of themain imaging device 32. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , thelink 46 connects theauxiliary imaging device 44 to thedistal end 48 of thetubular body 38. Preferably, thelink 46 is a flexible link that is at least partially made from a flexible shape memory material that substantially tends to return to its original shape after deformation. Shape memory materials are well known and include shape memory alloys and shape memory polymers. A suitable flexible shape memory material is a shape memory alloy such as nitinol. Theflexible link 46 is straightened to allow the distal end of theimaging assembly 14 to be inserted into the proximal end ofassembly 14 of theinsertion tube 12 and then pushed towards thedistal end 36 of theinsertion tube 12. When theauxiliary imaging device 44 andflexible link 46 are pushed sufficiently out of thedistal end 36 of theinsertion tube 12, theflexible link 46 resumes its natural bent configuration as shown inFIG. 3 . The natural configuration of theflexible link 46 is the configuration of theflexible link 46 when theflexible link 46 is not subject to any force or stress. When theflexible link 46 resumes its natural bent configuration, theauxiliary imaging device 44 faces substantially back towards thedistal end 36 of theinsertion tube 12 as shown inFIG. 5 . - In the illustrated embodiment, the auxiliary
light source 50 of theimaging assembly 14 is placed on theflexible link 46, in particular on the curved concave portion of theflexible link 46. The auxiliarylight source 50 provides illumination for theauxiliary imaging device 44 and may face substantially the same direction as theauxiliary imaging device 44 as shown inFIG. 4 . - The endoscope of the present invention, such as the
endoscope 10 shown inFIG. 1 , may be part of an endoscope system that also includes a controller. The term “controller” as used in this specification is broadly defined. In some embodiments, for example, the term “controller” may simply be a signal processing unit. - The controller can be used for, among others, reducing or eliminating the “thin line” artifacts described above.
FIG. 5 illustrates apreferred embodiment 52 of the controller. Thepreferred controller 52 includes a phase lock loop (PLL)circuit 54. ThePLL circuit 54 includes async separator 56, aphase detector 58, alow pass filter 60, and anoscillator 62. - The
sync separator 56 is connected to each of the main andauxiliary imaging devices imaging device sync separator 56 extracts a vertical synchronization signal from each video synchronization signal 64. Thephase detector 58 is connected to thesync separator 56 and receives the vertical synchronization signals from thesync separator 56. Thephase detector 56 then computes the phase difference between the vertical synchronization signals using the vertical synchronization signal of themain imaging device 32 as the reference signal. Thelow pass filter 60 is connected to thephase detector 58 and receives the phase difference from thephase detector 58. Thelow pass filter 60 averages the phase difference to reduce the noise content of the phase difference. Theoscillator 62 is connected to thelow pass filter 60 and receives the averaged phase difference. Based on the averaged phase difference, theoscillator 62 creates an output signal that matches the frequency and phase of the vertical synchronization signal of themain imaging device 32. This output signal of thePLL circuit 54 may be then amplified and sent to theauxiliary imaging device 44 as avideo clock signal 66. This feedback control loop adjusts the phase and/or frequency of the auxiliary imaging device's video clock so that the phase and frequency of the auxiliary imaging device's video synchronization signal 64 match those of themain imaging device 32′s video synchronization signal 64. In other words, the twoimaging devices - The
preferred controller 52 shown inFIG. 5 may also include an auxiliarylight source driver 68 that is used to “pulse” the auxiliarylight source 50. A “pulsed” light source is not constantly powered on. Instead, it is turned on and off intermittently at a certain frequency. The frequency, phase and duty cycle (pulse width) of the auxiliarylight source 50 can be adjusted by the auxiliarylight source driver 68. in addition, the output signal of thePLL circuit 54 may also be sent to the auxiliarylight source driver 68 to match the frequency of the auxiliarylight source 50 with that of theimaging devices - The inventors of the present application have discovered that the size and position of the artifact on an image produced by the
main imaging device 32 may be adjusted by varying at least the duty cycle of the auxiliarylight source 50 and by varying at least the phase of the auxiliarylight source 50 relative to theimaging devices light source 50 may be adjusted to vary at least the size of the artifact. In particular, the size of the artifact may be reduced by decreasing the duty cycle of the auxiliarylight source 50. In the case of the “thin line” artifact, the length of the artifact may be reduced by decreasing the duty cycle of the auxiliarylight source 50. - For another example, the artifact on an image produced by the
main imaging device 32 may be moved, such as vertically, by varying at least the phase of the auxiliarylight source 50 relative to theimaging devices controller 52 may allow a user to adjust the phase of the auxiliarylight source 50 to move the artifact to a region of non-interest in the image such as the location of the auxiliarylight source 50. - For a further example, the duty cycle and/or phase of the auxiliary
light source 50 may be adjusted so that the auxiliarylight source 50 is powered on only when themain imaging device 32 is in a vertical blanking interval, resulting in a reduction in the size of the artifact. - Similarly, using the above-described processes and devices, the size and/or position of an artifact on an image produced by the
auxiliary imaging device 44 may be adjusted by varying at least the duty cycle of the mainlight source 34 and by varying at least the phase of the mainlight source 34 relative to theimaging devices - In addition, an artifact on an image produced by one of the
image devices auxiliary imaging devices 32, 44 (i.e., introducing a phase delay between the frame rates of the two video signals). ThePLL circuit 54 may be used to maintain the desired phase difference between the video synchronization signals. Thecontroller 52 may be used to adjust the phase difference between the video synchronization signals to minimize the artifact. - The
auxiliary imaging device 44 and itslight source 50 may be connected to the controller 52 (not shown) via electrical conductors that extend from theimaging device 44 andlight source 50; through thelink 46,tubular body 38, and handle 42; to thecontroller 52. The electrical conductors may carry power and control commands to theauxiliary imaging device 44 and itslight source 50 and image signals from theauxiliary imaging device 44 to thecontroller 52. - The
controller 52 may be used to adjust the parameters of theimaging devices light sources controller 52 can change the register values by transmitting data commands to the registers. - In an alternate embodiment, the
controller 52 may be used to reduce light interference between themain imaging device 32 andlight source 34 and theauxiliary imaging device 44 andlight source 50. Since themain imaging device 32 andlight source 34 face theauxiliary imaging device 44 andlight source 50, the mainlight source 34 interferes with theauxiliary imaging device 44, and the auxiliarylight source 50 interferes with themain imaging device 32. Light interference is the result of the light from a light source being projected directly onto an imaging device. This may cause light glare, camera blooming, or over saturation of light, resulting in inferior image quality. - To reduce or eliminate light interference, the
imaging devices light sources main imaging device 32 andlight source 34 are turned on, theauxiliary imaging device 44 andlight source 50 are turned off. And when themain imaging device 32 andlight sources 34 are turned off, theauxiliary imaging device 44 andlight source 50 are turned on. Preferably, theimaging devices light sources light sources - The timing of powering on and off the
imaging devices light sources PLL circuit 54 shown inFIG. 5 . ThePLL circuit 54 may be employed to match the frame frequencies and phases of theimaging devices main imaging device 32 andlight source 34 are powered on during one half of the frame period, and theauxiliary imaging device 44 andlight source 50 are powered on during the other half of the frame period. - The above-described processes and devices may also be used when there are more than two imaging devices and two light sources and when the imaging devices and light sources are on two or more endoscopes.
Claims (21)
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2007
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- 2007-05-21 JP JP2009512109A patent/JP2009537283A/en active Pending
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Also Published As
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US8310530B2 (en) | 2012-11-13 |
EP2023795A2 (en) | 2009-02-18 |
JP2009537283A (en) | 2009-10-29 |
WO2007136859A3 (en) | 2008-03-13 |
US20140046136A1 (en) | 2014-02-13 |
US20070270642A1 (en) | 2007-11-22 |
US20120224026A1 (en) | 2012-09-06 |
US20070279486A1 (en) | 2007-12-06 |
EP2023794A2 (en) | 2009-02-18 |
WO2007136879A2 (en) | 2007-11-29 |
JP2009537284A (en) | 2009-10-29 |
WO2007136879B1 (en) | 2008-05-22 |
WO2007136859A2 (en) | 2007-11-29 |
WO2007136879A3 (en) | 2008-01-31 |
US8197399B2 (en) | 2012-06-12 |
US8587645B2 (en) | 2013-11-19 |
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